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THE Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility AND D.C. UNITED PARTNER TO FIGHT UNDERAGE DRINKING IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL: Program by Nickelodeon and The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility encourages and guides parents and kids to discus

Apr

04

2008

WASHINGTON, DC —Continuing its efforts to fight
underage drinking and support of family and healthy living, The Century
Council joined with D.C. United as an Official Corporate Partner of
their 2008 soccer season. The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, a national
not-for-profit funded by distillers dedicated to fighting drunk driving
and underage drinking, will share Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix, a program designed in partnership with Nickelodeon to educate parents and youth about the dangers of underage drinking.

The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility recognizes the important role that sports such
as soccer play in the development of healthy and active lifestyles.
The key to stopping underage drinking is communication early and often
between parents and children. Thus, The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility and D.C.
United will share the Ask, Listen, Learn program with parents and youth during the 2008 season in an effort to stop underage drinking.

“We know that parents are the leading influence in a kid’s decision
to drink – or not to drink – alcohol. We also know that involvement in
team sports can have a positive effect on a youth’s self-esteem,
grades, and reduces the likelihood of risky behaviors such as underage
drinking,” said Ralph Blackman, President and CEO, The Century
Council. “Thus, it makes sense to bring our program to D.C. United fans
– families who care about the importance of healthy lifestyles and the
natural connection with sports.”

Alcohol consumption among America’s youth has declined over the past
20 years, yet underage drinking remains unacceptably high. According
to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 10.8 million
Americans between the ages of 12-20 report current alcohol
consumption.

Blackman added, “The rate of current alcohol consumption among youth
increases with age, yet alarmingly first use of alcohol typically
begins around age 12. We must all intervene to stop underage drinking
by starting the conversation – early – and often.”

The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility’s sponsorship of the 2008 season includes “Ask,
Listen, Learn Day” where a select number of game attendees will receive
Ask, Listen, Learn branded items, as well as public awareness
messages on the D.C. United website and in team programs and guides –
in English and Spanish. D.C. United Players will enhance The Century
Council’s outreach by appearing at community events.

Ask, Listen, Learn is unique in that it gives both kids and parents the tools to initiate the conversation about alcohol. The program includes:

A parent’s booklet,
detailing how to begin the conversation, sustain the conversation and
make an impact on kids. It presents effective questions, data,
conversation starters and answers to typical objections kids raise.

A kid’s booklet,
with interactive games, trivia cards with questions and answers
explaining the facts about alcohol, addressing issues including how to
avoid peer pressure, and creative ways to say no. It also includes an
Action Against Alcohol Agreement that both kids and parents can sign.

Pregunte. Eschuche. Aprenda – produced
by Nickelodeon, is a brochure for trusted adults who interact with
middle school-aged kids in the Hispanic community.

Asklistenlearn.com, produced
by Nickelodeon, is a website for kids with information on the dangers
of underage drinking including monthly polls, information interactive
games and videos, as well as more information on how to say no.

Asklistenlearnparents.com, produced by Nickelodeon,is a websitefor
parents with additional information on how to have the conversation and
links to additional national and local resources related to underage
drinking.

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About The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility
The
Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility’s mission is to promote responsible decision-making
regarding drinking or non-drinking of beverage alcohol and to
discourage all forms of irresponsible consumption through education,
communications, research, law enforcement and other programs.
Recognizing nearly twenty years of progress, the distillers that fund
The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility have invested over $175 million in its programs to
fight drunk driving and underage drinking. For more information about
The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, please visit www.responsibility.org.

About D.C. United
Headquartered in Washington, DC and playing home matches at RFK
Stadium, D.C. United is the most successful professional soccer
organization in the history of the United States. United is four-time
MLS Cup Champions (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004) and winners of the 1996
U.S. Open Cup, the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup, the 1998 Interamerican
Cup and the 1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007 MLS Supporters Shield. United is
one of 14 teams comprising Major League Soccer, joining CD Chivas USA,
the Chicago Fire, the Colorado Rapids, the Columbus Crew, FC Dallas,
the Houston Dynamo, the Kansas City Wizards, the Los Angeles Galaxy,
the New England Revolution, Red Bull New York, Real Salt Lake, the San
Jose Earthquakes and Toronto FC. For the latest headlines and official
information on the Black-and-Red, log onto www.dcunited.com.

About The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility and SoccerIn
2005 The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility partnered with the U.S. National Women ’s
Soccer Team Players Association to create an innovative and
unprecedented program called Girl Talk: Choices and Consequences of Underage Drinking. Girl Talk
engages teens and teaches them about the perils of underage drinking
and promotes healthy lifestyles. Recognizing that female soccer
players are role models to many teen girls, The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility’s Girl Talk
program was the sponsor of the 2007 Induction of the National Soccer
Hall of Fame – the year when Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy were inducted.
To learn more, please visit www.grltlk.org.